Folding duplex toothbrush



Nov. 16 1926.

H. B. DYKES FOLDING DUPLEX TOOTHBHUSH Filed Jan. 21, 1926 handle foroperation of the Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES HENRY 137 DYKES, OF HAZLEHURSTyGEORGIA.

FOLDING DUPLEX TOOTHBBUSH.

Application filed January 21, 1926. Serial No. 82,687.

The invention relates to tooth brushes and particularly to brushes ofthe type that permits folding of the brush within a casing, and has forits object the provision of an improved construction of folding toothbrush in which two brushes are provided, one having a concaved brushface for labial application of the brush to the teeth, and the otherbrush having a convex face for lingual application of the brush to theteeth, said brushes being mounted on stems pivotally secured within thecasing so that either brush may be extended out of the casing for use,the casing to be used as a brush, and when the brushes are not in usethey will be housed within the casing to keep them sanitary.

The invention will be described in detail hereinafter and will be foundillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a viewof the tooth brush in a closed position,

Figure 2, a top plan viewpartly broken away showing the brushes in theirclosed position,

Figure 3, an end View of the casing closed,

Figure 4, a transverse sectional view on the plane indicated by the line44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5, a sectional detail of the pivot mounting for the brush stem,and

Figure 6, a view on a plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

In the drawings similar reference characters will be used to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

The casing forming the handle for the improved folding duplex toothbrush comprising a bottom section-1 having upstanding flanges 2, and atop section 3 having downwardly directed flanges 4, said top sectionbeing hingedly secured as shown at 5 to the bottom section 1, and theflanges t overlapping the flanges 2 when the top 3 is in a closedposition. Secured in the bottom portion 1 adjacent to one of its ends'is a rib 6 that is preferably made of sheet metal bent intermediate ofits ends as shown to form the rib 6 and having flanges 7 that aresecured in any suitable manner to the bottom of the casing. Pivot-allysecured on each side of the rib 6 by means of a common pivot pin 8 arestems 9, each of said stems carrying a brush, one of said brushes 10being convex as shown, while the other brush 11 is concave.

Flange 2 of the bottom section, at the end adjacent to the rib 6 isprovided with a slot 10 and flange 4 of the cover 3 is provided with twoslots 11 said slots 10 and 11 alining when the cover is in closedposition, and permits extending either or both of the brushes outside ofthe casing by swinging them on the pivot 8. The end of the rib 6adjacent the end of the casing is provided with outwardly directedflanges 12 formed by splitting the sheet metal of which the rib 6 ismade, said flanges 12 being adapted to engage the stems 9 of the toothbrushes when they are in their extended position to securely hold themin said positions.

It will be apparent that as the brush in a folded position is in acompact form as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tooth brush is adapted foruse by travelers, the sanitary storage of the brush also adding to theadaptability for such use, and furthermore as tooth brushes have facesof different contours, as above described, the article will be usefulfrom a general standpoint.

hat is claimed is 1. In a folding tooth brush, a casing, a rib securedadjacent to one end of the casing, a flange. on said rib, and a brushhead having a stem pivotally secured to said rib and adapted to befolded into the casing and to extend through an opening in the endthereof when opened, the flange aforesaid engaging said stem in openedposition and forming a lock therefor.

'2. In a folding tooth brush, a casing having an opening in one endthereof, a rib secured adjacent one end of the casing, flanges on thetwo sides of the rib, and a brush head having a stem pivotally mountedon either side of the rib. said brush head being adapted to be foldedinto the casing and its stem being adapted to extend through the openingin the end of the casing and to be held in said position by the flangeon the corresponding side of the rib.

3. In a folding tooth brush, a flanged casing having a slot in one endthereof, a flanged cover hingedly secured to the casing and having slotsin the end thereof alined with the first mentioned slots, a rib securedadjacent to the slotted end of the casing flanges on said rib, and abrush head having a stem pivotally mounted on either side of said rib,said brush head being adapted to be folded into the casing, said brushstem being adapted to extend through one of the slots aforesaid when inextended position, and being held in extended positions by engagement ofone of the flanges on the rib l0 therewith.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HENRY B. DYKES.

